Article 9 of the Constitution of the Italian Republic states: “The Republic promotes the development of culture and scientific and technical research. It protects the landscape and the historical and artistic heritage of the Nation”. Unfortunately, this promise has in the past led to efforts focused primarily on protecting the visible heritage (churches, palaces, works of art), while the promotion of culture in a broader sense has remained vague. Essential levels of cultural service provision have never been defined[1]. The complex inter-institutional system of competencies at State level and the plurality of configurations to which cultural matters are subject in regional and municipal administrations make it impossible to prescribe what the essential rights of cultural citizenship consist of and to safeguard their equal enjoyment for all.
Probably also due to a lack of aptitude for governing cultural participation, levels in Italy are particularly depressed, especially among citizens with low incomes and low levels of education and in the most disadvantaged areas of the country. Cultural participation levels vary across the spectrum of socio-economic inequality[2]. The ruling class, white-collar families and high-income retirees express the greatest intensity of cultural practice (heritage sites, live performance and cinema). At the other extreme, in a condition of cultural exclusion, are the families of retired workers, those on low incomes, and those out of work. The less active social groups in the outdoor cultural consumption are fond of the radio and, especially, television. The more active and affluent groups, on the other hand, choose to read books and newspapers more intensively.
Recent national initiatives mostly address the economic barriers to cultural consumption.
Since 2016, residents who reach the age of majority receive a €500 bonus (Bonus 18anni[3]) from the State to be used for cultural consumption (cinema, music and concerts, cultural events, books, museums, theatre, music, etc.).
Entrance to State museums, monuments, and archaeological sites (free admission in a large percentage of cases) is free for all EU and non-EU citizens under the age of 18, for several categories of visitors, as well as for all in special days and during Museum week[4].
With a more inclusive and strategic approach, the Law of 1 February 2020, n. 15 provides for the promotion and support of reading, as a means for the development of knowledge, the dissemination of culture, the promotion of the civil, social and economic progress of the country, and the training and welfare of citizens[5].
Nati per leggere – Born to Read is a project developed by the Pediatricians’ Cultural Association, the Italian Library Association and the Child Health Centre, present in all Italian regions. It offers free reading activities to families with children up to 6 years of age, carried out with the financial contribution of the National Centre for Books and Reading, Regions, Provinces, and Municipalities[6].
The 2021 National Plan for Education related to Cultural Heritage (4th edition)[7] underlines the strategic role of heritage education for the cultural, economic and social recovery of the country and promotes educational actions around three strategic axes: Accessibility/Cohesion; Innovation/Creativity; Cooperation/Subsidiarity. The Region Emilia-Romagna launched in December 2021 a special experimental programme of Arts on Prescription, focused on the theatre. Children aged 3 to 8 will go to the theatre with Theatre syrup[8], ‘prescribed’ by their paediatrician or purchased at the pharmacy. The ‘syrup’ is actually a booklet, with six “prescriptions”, each of which corresponds to a ticket, at the price of 2 euros, for each child and each accompanying person. Over 150 paediatricians and 234 pharmacies take part in the programme. The Syrup of theatre comprises 71 shows.
[1] Castelli G., A. Cicerchia et al. (eds.) 2018. Cultura come diritto di cittadinanza: radici costituzionali, politiche e servizi. Rome: Associazione Civita.
[2] Istat 2017. Rapporto annuale 2017. La situazione del Paese. https://www.istat.it/it/files//2017/05/RA2017_cap3.pdf.
[3] https://www.18app.italia.it/#!/
[4] https://www.beniculturali.it/agevolazioni
[5] https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2020/03/10/20G00023/sg
[6] https://www.natiperleggere.it/
[7] https://dger.beniculturali.it/iv-piano-nazionale-per-leducazione-al-patrimonio-culturale/
[8] https://www.ater.emr.it/it/news/sciroppo-di-teatro.
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